Latest data from the Environment Agency on permitted spills of untreated sewage into the River Lim in 2024 showed big increases from the Uplyme Sewage Treatment Works and Horn Bridge Pumping Station, both up by a third.
This is despite rainfall for 2023 and 2024 being about the same—the overflows are only supposed to happen in exceptional rainfall.
The overall figure for spills into the river showed a decrease of about a third of hours, down from 1287 hours the year before. But nearly all the apparent decrease was down to a single Combined Sewer Overflow at Mill Lane. The River Lim Action Group will be asking South West Water about the data, which has proved misleading in the past.
“There are continuing major issues at the Sewage Treatment Works and Horn Bridge Pumping Station,” said Vicki Elcoate of the River Lim Action group. “South West Water has been putting in effort on the ground, but we really need major investment to stop this unacceptable level of discharge.”
Some caution is necessary about the results, as Event Duration Monitors (EDMS), the monitors that record discharges, can be unreliable. River Lim Action has previously questioned the accuracy of the data, which led to previous data being revised. This year the CSO at Gosling Bridge appears to have been faulty so that actual spill hours are likely to be greater.
“As well as permitted discharges, sewage is still entering the river and sea from unidentified leakages, and we look forward to further investment to tackle this huge and unacceptable level of sewage discharge,” said Vicki Elcoate. “The water quality at our newly designated bathing beach, Church Beach, is poor, and we need urgent action to improve it.”
Across the Southwest, storm overflow durations increased.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/environment-agency-storm-overflow-spill-data-for-2024
